848 research outputs found
Characterization of Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Roots Versus Root Pulling Resistance as Selection Indices for Draught Tolerance
A technique described as Root Pulling Resistance (RPR) was used to evaluate genotypic differences in root growth and development of 50 rice germplasm accessions and cultivars. Several root characteristics in rice are associated with drought tolerance and avoidance capability of plants. The RPR measurements showed a significant positive correlation with maximum root length (r=0.69), root thickness (r=0.75), branching number (r=0.75), and root dry weight (r= 0.82). Rice genotypes that had a high RPR value were identified as having longer, thicker, and denser root systems. The data indicated that high RPR measurements are strongly correlated with greater root penetration. Munji Sufaid Pak, IR52 (IR5853-1 18-5) and Saunfia or Mabla Pak 329 had a significantly greater root length, root thickness, root number, root branching and dry weight as compared to IR 36. Also, there was no correlation between plant height and RPR. Furthermore, the data demonstrated that the RPR technique is ideal for selecting superior root systems and potential drought tolerant rice germplasm and cultivars
Intrinsically localized chaos in discrete nonlinear extended systems
The phenomenon of intrinsic localization in discrete nonlinear extended
systems, i.e. the (generic) existence of discrete breathers, is shown to be not
restricted to periodic solutions but it also extends to more complex (chaotic)
dynamical behaviour. We illustrate this with two different forced and damped
systems exhibiting this type of solutions: In an anisotropic Josephson junction
ladder, we obtain intrinsically localized chaotic solutions by following
periodic rotobreather solutions through a cascade of period-doubling
bifurcations. In an array of forced and damped van der Pol oscillators, they
are obtained by numerical continuation (path-following) methods from the
uncoupled limit, where its existence is trivially ascertained, following the
ideas of the anticontinuum limit.Comment: 6 pages, 6 figures, to appear in Europhysics Letter
Chromatin proteins and RNA are associated with DNA during all phases of mitosis.
Mitosis brings about major changes to chromosome and nuclear structure. We used recently developed proximity ligation assay-based techniques to investigate the association with DNA of chromatin-associated proteins and RNAs in Drosophila embryos during mitosis. All groups of tested proteins, histone-modifying and chromatin-remodeling proteins and methylated histones remained in close proximity to DNA during all phases of mitosis. We also found that RNA transcripts are associated with DNA during all stages of mitosis. Reduction of H3K27me3 levels or elimination of RNAs had no effect on the association of the components of PcG and TrxG complexes to DNA. Using a combination of proximity ligation assay-based techniques and super-resolution microscopy, we found that the number of protein-DNA and RNA-DNA foci undergoes significant reduction during mitosis, suggesting that mitosis may be accompanied by structural re-arrangement or compaction of specific chromatin domains
Developmental regulation of expression of the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) multigene family during mouse spermatogenesis
Expression of the Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) genes during various stages of spermatogenesis was studied by using a combination of Northern blot analyses and in situ hybridization techniques. These studies have indicated that developmentally programmed expression of all three functional LDH genes occurs during differentiation of germ cells. The LDH/C (ldh-3) gene was expressed exclusively during meiosis and spermiogenesis, beginning in leptotene/zygotene spermatocytes and continuing through to the elongated spermatids. LDH/C (ldh-3) gene expression was accompanied by transient expression of the LDH/A (ldh-1) gene in pachytene spermatocytes and round spermatids. The LDH/B (ldh-2) gene was expressed mainly in Sertoli and spermatogonial cells. By using somatic cell hybrids, the LDH/C (ldh-3) gene has been mapped to mouse chromosome 7, establishing that it is syntenic with the LDH/A (ldh-1) gene locus. Experimental observations made in this study provide new insight into the order and sequence of events involved in the regulation of gene expression of the LDH gene family during spermatogenesis
Ratchet potential for fluxons in Josephson-Junction arrays
We propose a simple configuration of a one-dimensional parallel array of
Josephson junctions in which the pinning potential for trapped fluxons lacks
inversion symmetry (ratchet potential). This sytem can be modelised by a set of
non-linear pendula with alternating lengths and harmonic couplings. We show, by
molecular dynamics simulations, that fluxons behave as single particles in
which the predictions for overdamped thermal ratchet can be easily verified.Comment: 7 pages, 8 figure
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